TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Education continues to be a sizzling matter in Florida as 1000’s of college students walked out of their classrooms in protest across the state over latest curriculum insurance policies.
From the University of Florida to Florida International University and in Tampa on the University of South Florida, college students and educators walked out of their classrooms Thursday afternoon protesting what they are saying are assaults on black historical past and transgender college students.
“As a black, queer, trans person, the governor is trying to pass laws to make my existence illegal,” stated USF scholar Jay James.
“Diversity is under attack, stand up, fight back,” the group chanted.
The college students are protesting latest state laws impacting Florida schooling, particularly revolving round African American historical past and the LGBTQ group discussions.
“A lot of faculty are living in fear right now because of what Ron DeSantis is doing,” USF affiliate professor Christina Richards stated. “A lot of faculty can’t take action because they could actually loose their jobs.”
Some professors ended their lessons early, others got here once they had free time to participate within the protest—standing in solidarity with college students like Elijah Keila who says the struggle doesn’t finish right here.
“Now that our rights and freedoms are being infringed upon, we’re not going to settle for how things were four months ago,” Keila stated. “Everything the state is doing to hamper education, we are going to bring back tenfold.”